Some Thoughts on the 2025 Detroit Tigers Draft Class

The 2025 MLB Draft is now in the rearview mirror. Here are some observations on the Detroit Tigers class.

The emotional rollercoaster known as the MLB Draft occurred this past Sunday and Monday, and it was an interesting one to say the least.

With a class known more for its depth than star power at the top of the draft, there were more surprises than usual right from the beginning, and indeed all throughout the draft.

Multiple teams went against the grain (and general pre-draft rankings), as perhaps due to the depth of the class, many of those teams made selections with the hope of spreading their bonus pool around. The Detroit Tigers at first glance appear to be a perfect example of this.

Despite having the 24^th pick in the first round, the Tigers had the 17^th highest signing bonus pool (on account of their Competitive Balance Round A selection), which allowed them in theory to get a little creative with their draft. And it seems like they did just that.

Some signings have already trickled in, but while we wait for the rest of the Tigers players to sign (August 1^st is the deadline), let’s review some early observations about the Detroit Tigers 2025 draft:

Upside (and Savings?) Up Top

We mentioned the Tigers getting creative with their 2025 draft, and one needs to look no further than their top two picks for proof.

With their first two selections in round one and the first competitive balance round, the Tigers went against pre-draft rankings by selecting high schoolers Jordan Yost and Michael Oliveto.

While acknowledging that pre-draft rankings are solely the opinions of those involved and not gospel, just for reference, Yost was ranked 50^th by MLB Pipeline, 56^th by ESPN and 36^th by FanGraphs; while Oliveto was ranked 219^th (!) by MLB Pipeline, 50^th by ESPN and 59^th by FanGraphs. (This is a good time to mention how much pre-draft rankings can vary by source.)

Despite the consensus rankings, it’s not hard to see why Detroit was interested in these two late blooming prospects.

Yost is a smooth-swinging, projectable 6’ left handed hitting shortstop out of Sickles High School in Florida. After weighing just 115 pounds as a freshman, Jordan is currently at 170 pounds, and the Tigers believe he will fill out even more and add more strength.

Known for his outstanding bat-to-ball skills, feel to hit and knowledge of the strike zone, Yost famously struck out just once his senior year, and according to Keith Law, his whiff rate was just 7% on the summer circuit last year.

His power currently lags behind what is considered an above average hit tool, but again the Tigers believe that the power will come in time. Defensively, Yost has a great reputation at short, and should stick there due to his solid and accurate arm, good speed and good hands / actions.

Oliveto on the other hand is a smooth-swinging, projectable 6’3” left handed hitting catcher out of Hauppauge High School in New York. A late bloomer like Yost, Oliveto wasn’t on many scouts’ radars until the fall, when he impressed at a wood bat tournament in Florida.

Michael has the rare potential to be a catcher with not only a solid hit tool, but also power to boot; as he gets a ton of “rotational acceleration” in his powerful swing (hat tip to Jacob Markle of Bless You Boys), which FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen compared to something similar to Juan Soto’s.

Oliveto’s defense behind the plate is a bit of a current question mark, and is considered a little raw at present; but with receiving skills, athleticism and an arm that could become at least average in time (especially with the Tigers catching development team), there’s a good chance Michael sticks at catcher.

When these picks were announced, there was some confusion in parts of the Tigers Twitter-sphere, likely due to the difference between pre-draft rankings relative to where the players were selected.

But along with that, there was not only excitement about the upside that these two prepsters would bring to the organization, but also some thought that the Tigers may be able to sign one or both to under slot deals, and spread that savings further down the draft board; and in fact, Yost signed Friday for close to $500,000 under slot value, and Oliveto signed Saturday for close to $400,000 under slot. Let’s get back to the potential savings in a second.

Upside (and Perhaps Less Savings?) in Rounds 2-4

With their next three picks, the Tigers aligned a little more with the pre-draft rankings, as with picks #62, 98 and 129, Detroit selected high upside college pitchers Malachi Witherspoon (ranked #121 by MLB Pipeline, #49 by ESPN and #98 by FanGraphs), Ben Jacobs (#107 by MLB Pipeline, #141 by ESPN and #86 by FanGraphs) and Caleb Leys (#193 by ESPN).

Witherspoon is a 6’3” right handed pitcher out of the University of Oklahoma. With a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and can hit 99, a slider and curveball that both flash above average, and a changeup that flashes at least average (although it isn’t used much currently), Malachi has the pitch mix to be at least a mid-rotation starter at the next level.

Currently working exclusively out of the stretch, he gets good extension out of a three-quarters arm slot, but he can be a bit inconsistent with his delivery, which leads to some current questions about his command (and potential relief risk, where he could excel as well).

The Tigers vaunted pitching department has shown they can help in that area, as well as with shapes (some feel Witherspoon will need to make a change in his fastball shape) and developing changeups; and it will be very interesting to see what they do with Witherspoon, who I’d expect to sign at slot value at minimum or slightly above slot.

Jacobs is a 6’1” left handed starter from Arizona State University. He currently has an average to slightly above average fastball that sits in the low 90s (and touches the mid 90s), that he pairs with an above average changeup and a pair of breaking balls that both flash above average as well.

Like Witherspoon, Jacobs had a high strikeout rate in college facing good competition, but also like Witherspoon, he comes with some question about command, despite a repeatable delivery. He gets to work under the same development team as Malachi does, and if the Tigers can get him hitting his spots a little more frequently, he has the tools to be a mid to back of the rotation starter. Like Witherspoon, I’d expect Jacobs to sign around slot value or slightly above.

Leys is another 6’1” left handed starter, this time out of the University of Maine. With a fastball that currently sits in the low 90s (but plays up due to big extension, and can touch the mid 90s), a slider that flashes above average and a developing changeup, like Jacobs, he has the tools to be a potential mid to back of the rotation starter, if he can tighten up his changeup and command a little, which the Tigers will certainly hope to do. (Leys has already shown improvement in command, as his BB/9 was in the 6.5 range in ’22 and ’23, and down to 3.6 in ’25.) Caleb missed the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, but came back with a vengeance and looking even stronger in 2025. As reported by Brian Recca on X and relayed by Tigers Torkmoil (who did an amazing job covering the draft live), Leys has signed at slot value.

With these three picks, the Tigers got a lot of upside in three college pitchers with good stuff, and the hope is that their pitching department can help work on any current issues that are in the way of those players reaching their potential.

While Leys has signed at slot value, we are waiting to see how much Witherspoon and Jacobs command. My guess is neither will sign below slot, and if anything, they may require slightly over slot deals, which would chip away a little at any savings from the top two picks, but perhaps not prohibitively so (more on that later).

Signable College Pitchers with Traits Detroit Likes

The Tigers went fairly pitching heavy in the 2025 draft, as 13 of the players selected were pitchers. And while it’s never smart to draft for need, Detroit could stand to add some depth to their pitching ranks in the minor leagues; and it appears they did just that.

Starting in round six, the Tigers selected several college pitchers throughout the draft with stats that may not jump off the page, but with traits they like in their pitchers, whatever that may be specifically. The expectation is that all will sign around their slot values (rounds 11-20 come with a $150,000 allotment).

Grayson Grinsell was the Tigers 6^th round selection out of the University of Oregon, and was ranked #190 by MLB Pipeline, right in line with where he was drafted. While his fastball currently tops out in the high 80s / low 90s, it’s tough to hit due to his impressive extension and his ability to throw a changeup that is already currently solidly above average, which the Tigers enjoy. His slider is considered a work in progress, but Detroit may be able to help there.

With a slight uptick in velo and an improvement in his breaking ball, there’s back of the rotation potential in the young left hander, who has solid command and did put up good numbers this past season in a good conference. Grinsell has apparently signed (again per Tigers Torkmoil on X), and we found out Saturday that his signing bonus was for around $36,000 less than slot.

With their next selection, Detroit chose Cale Wetwiska, a 6’2” right handed starter out of Northern Oklahoma College-Enid. While he was a two-way player (which speaks to his athleticism) in college, the Tigers will have him focus on pitching only in the professional ranks. Cale currently sits in the low to mid 90s with the fastball (with 18+ inches of induced vertical break, which the Tigers seem to like), and also throws a cutter, sweeper and changeup that all sit somewhere in the low to mid 80s (the cutter may be a tick above that). Now that he can put all his effort into pitching, there’s hope for further improvement working with the Tigers pitching department. With some eligibility left, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wetwiska sign around slot value as well.

Further down the draft in rounds 11-20, the Tigers picked up college pitchers Cash Kuiper (a Pitching Wrx alum, like current Tigers Jackson Jobe and Owen Hall, with solid command, solid stuff and swing and miss; who signed Saturday for slot value), Charlie Christensen (a low slot righty with solid stuff and decent command), Joe Ruzicka (a righty with developing command, a good pitch mix with good spin and an ability to miss barrels) and Joey Wimpelberg (a righty with less experience but some swing and miss with good stuff). Detroit has found value in the later rounds of the draft the past two years, and apparently their scouts and development team saw something they liked in each of these pitchers, otherwise they wouldn’t have used draft capital on them.

Signable College Hitters with Traits Detroit Likes

Based on pre-draft rankings, the first “steal” of the Tigers draft was in round 8, when Detroit selected outfielder Nick Dumesnil. Dumesnil was ranked #118 by MLB Pipeline and #197 by ESPN, but fell to pick #249 to Detroit.

Dumesnil is a 6’2” right handed hitter from California Baptist University. With a compact swing, Nick put up big numbers in college (and in the Cape Cod league last year), albeit with some swing and miss. If the Tigers can get him to put the bat on the ball a little more, he has the tools (which includes good speed and pop) to be a solid outfielder in the future, perhaps even in center. The expectation is that Dumesnil may require a signing bonus slightly above slot value, but we shall see.

Two rounds later, Detroit picked up catcher Edian Espinal in round 10. Espinal is a 5’8” switch hitter out of the University of Central Florida. Originally an infielder, the Tigers drafted Espinal as a catcher, where his frame and athleticism should work well (he played some catcher for UCF this spring). Edian put up solid numbers last season at UCF with a strikeout rate of just 13% (and walk rate of 9%), and his smooth lefty swing has a little juice. (It’s tough to find footage of his righty swing.) With the position change, Espinal is a bit of a developmental project, but Detroit is known to work well with catchers. Again per Tigers Torkmoil on X, Espinal has officially signed, for just below slot value.

In rounds 11-20, Detroit selected college hitters Jack Goodman (Round 13), Beau Ankeney (Round 14) and Kameron Douglas (Round 20). Goodman is a 6’ shortstop from Northeastern who had a big year in 2025 and is known as a solid defender with some pop, speed and developing on base ability, Ankeney is a 6’4” right handed hitting tank who has more of a first base profile but has big pop, manages the strike zone and had a strong 2025 season at Loyola Marymount, while Douglas is a 6’5” outfielder from Alabama State with pop, the ability to manage the strike zone and a big arm who had a good season this spring. Per Tigers Torkmoil, Goodman and Ankney have signed at their slot values, and the expectation is that Douglas will likely come in around the same amount.

High Upside High Schoolers Who Will Require Over Slot Deals

We’re burying the lede here a little, but remember those savings we discussed earlier, that the Tigers may get from their top two picks? This is where I think those savings will mostly go, if the Tigers are lucky.

While Detroit went a little college heavy in the draft this year, they did select five high schoolers outside of their top two picks, and the hope is that with some bonus pool finagling and perhaps a little luck, the Tigers will be able to sign the majority of these five.

In round five, the Tigers selected 6’1” right hander Ryan Hall from North Gwinnett High School in Georgia. Like Jackson Jobe before him, Hall was a quarterback in high school, and is known for his athleticism. Ryan has a smooth, compact delivery that should lead to solid command when paired with his aforementioned athleticism; and currently sits in the low 90s with the heater (he’s apparently gained a few ticks over the last year), which he compliments with a low 80s slider (with good spin) and low to mid 80s changeup. Hall is currently committed to Georgia Tech, but by drafting him in round five, the Tigers surely hope they’ll be able to get him to sign, likely above slot.

In round nine, the Tigers went back to high school by selecting pitcher Trevor Heishman. Heishman is a 6’4” left hander out of St. John Bosco High School in California. Featuring a low 90s fastball with solid extension, a slider in the low 80s (with decent spin) and a developing changeup, Heishman has the frame and athleticism to be a starter at the next level. Committed to the University of Memphis, just like with Ryan Hall, Detroit will hope that dropping some (above slot) bucks will sway him from that commitment. The guess is that Detroit will be able to sign both Hall and Heishman, as they’d lose the bonus money from rounds five and nine if they’re unable to sign them.

The Tigers pick in round 11 was perhaps their most interesting pick of the draft. Despite a ranking of #99 at MLB Pipeline, #184 at ESPN and #119 at FanGraphs, 6’3” right hander River Hamilton fell to Detroit at pick #339. The most likely / hopeful scenario is that the Tigers were able to let Hamilton know they’d pay him well above slot, which set his price and allowed Detroit to float him down to the 11^th round. (If Detroit is unable to sign Hamilton, since they selected him in round 11, they would not lose bonus pool funds.)

Hamilton is out of Sam Barlow High School in Oregon, and is known for a fastball that’s into the mid 90s already (with more expected due to his frame and athleticism), that he pairs with two solid breaking balls (with spin) and a developing changeup that has potential, with command that could be above average in time. An LSU commit, it won’t be cheap to get Hamilton to sign, but it would be quite the coup for Detroit if they can get him. The guess / hope here is that Detroit is able to sign him to a well over slot deal, utilizing some savings from the top of the draft.

In round 18, the Tigers went back to the well for another advanced high school pitcher, a 6’1” left hander from Lone Jack High School in Missouri named Ethan Rogers. Rogers was ranked #137 on ESPN’s big board, which speaks to his talent level; as does his already solid pitch mix that includes a fastball that’s into the low 90s (and can touch a tick higher), as well as two breaking balls with good spin (his curveball is dare I say a little Clayton Kershaw-esque) and a developing changeup. Like Hamilton, he won’t be cheap, but the hope is that he’ll become a Detroit Tiger via an over slot deal, instead of going to Wichita State. (Admittedly though the guess in this case is that Rogers may be a tough sign for Detroit, as while they did get some savings from Jordan Yost and Michael
Oliveto’s signing bonuses, it may not be enough for Detroit to get both Hamilton and Rogers.)

With their 19^th round selection, the Tigers picked up high school infielder Meridian Leffew out of Gaston Christian High School in North Carolina. Leffew is 6’2” with a smooth, compact swing from the right side, power potential and a good arm / good speed; and while he’ll be a tough sign as well, we’ll see if the Tigers have enough left to entice him to sway from his commitment to UCF.

Overall, it was a very interesting draft from Detroit, and the word of the day is “upside”. Go down the draft board, and it’s hard to find a single player that doesn’t offer some level of intrigue; and in fact, several players offer a lot of intrigue.

Based on past history, the Tigers should get the majority of the class (or all in the case of rounds 1-10) to sign. Detroit has let a few late round high schoolers slip through the cracks the past two years though, and this year, the class will of course look differently if the Tigers can’t get some combination of Hamilton, Rogers and/or Meffew to sign. The first impression is that Rogers and Meffew are the least likely to sign, but hopefully for Tigers fans that first impression is incorrect.

While Yost, Oliveto and a handful of college players have signed already, the wager here is that the rest of the signing bonuses look something like this:

Round 1 and Competitive Balance Pick: under slot

Rounds 2, 3 and 8: at or a touch above slot

Rounds 4, 6, 7, 10: at slot or slightly below

Rounds 12-17 and 20: at slot

Rounds 5, 9, 11, 18 and 19: above slot (if the Tigers are lucky)

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